Holiday Sing Along

If you know me personally, or have been reading here or FB for any length of time, you know that I have a BIG THING for the healing power of music, and the ability of music to bring people together.

Some of you also know how I just think music is FUN.

Last night was a bit of all of that, as various folks from different parts of my life gathered in my TINY house to sing carols together, eat lots, and laugh more....

I am not a religious person, but I LOVE Christmas. I love what the holiday represents to me (peace and joy born into the world), using the subjects of the holiday (giving, light and music). It really is the only holiday in the USA that is celebrated around a special bunch of music that is only performed/listened to/enjoyed in the season.

I like that.....

....and a lot of the music is about what a gift music is!!!! (Little Drummer Boy is one of only two Christmas songs that I have 'performance ready', besides my own (see top right on this page for an mp3 of my song, This Night)....the other is 'Do You Hear What I Hear'....hmmmmm-see the theme?)

Well, I was MAJORLY gifted last night. Connie and Renee came first, way earlier than everyone else, but that was great, because I got time i cherish to just talk to them.....then came Betsi and Abby and many many instruments.....too many to list, but believe me, there were many!!!

OH!!! and let me not forget the spinach/pepperoni/cheese pie that Renee brought and the mac and cheese that Abby and Betsi brought!!! oh MY.....the perfect additions to my meatballs and we ate....and ate.....and ate....

....and settled down to music. Connie played some songs for us while I was trying to get settled (~sigh~the joys of being hyper....lol) but we soon launched into Christmas songs. By then, Deb had arrived and we had the room rocking with bangers, shakers, singers and guitars....what a Joyful Noise!!!!

Very soon, along comes Mike, Liz, Simon and their baby.....and a LOT more instruments!!!! LOL.....I was a little worried, because at that time, I thought the room was full!!!!(the instruments in this house have a room to themselves, yeah, i have a resident 'green room'....but it is blue!!!...lol...so it was not them that worried me!! but seating another three +baby DID worry me!)

By time everyone was settled, it was clear that we could do it, and we started back at the songs....this tme with young Simon joining in the singing AND the percussion....and doing a great job of it too!!!. And Mike...it seems he can play something to anything and on any insturment that has strings or keys....just amazing.......i SO appreciate that he comes to my gatherings....

I don't believe I have heard Abby in the past, but I did this time, and her joy and voice makes my heart soar!! Betsi (see further down on my blog) has the voice of an angel, and a catchy style to boot.....Connie is the Rock, supported by Renee, and gave us a great lesson on demolished, ....er diminished chords. And my friend Deb, well she just HAS to sing more, I love to see her enjoying herself and she sings well!!!

At some point during the evening, I turned on the recorder and got this Recording of Holiday SingAlong.....enjoy it!!!  (click the link)

After a while, people got tired and wandered home or to the next party (Note to self....early party's this time of year get folks who have obligations to other things to come to your thing too...).....and Todd and Brother Ed came....they got the tail end of the music, but we sat until the wee hours of the morning, talking about life....what a wonderful end to a GREAT DAY!!! I thank ALL of you!!!